Many renters remain in damaged apartments.
The tornado that hit NE Jackson and surrounding areas damaged more than a few apartment complexes:
"The carpet in Jessie Jones' apartment at Northtown off Old Canton Road in Jackson is covered with damp newspapers, pots, bowls and even a bedpan to catch water dripping from the ceiling.
"The whole roof was off (my building)," Jones said.
The elderly retiree didn't have renter's insurance and is living on a fixed income, but she's staying put....
Jones' complex is one of about a dozen in the tri-county area damaged by Friday's storm.
Northtown was one of the hardest hit, with 75-80 residents displaced because of extensive damage to about 50 units..." http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080410/NEWS/804100375/1001/news
One aches for these people as many lost their possessions, have no real place to call home, and must pick up and move somewhere else. I can't say it enough: GET RENTER'S INSURANCE!!! I got mine through Geico/Travelers. It cost me $180 a year and they will let you pay monthly. So for $20 or so a month, a renter sleep at night knowing his furniture, tv, and other belongings are covered if something happens.
Heavy Storms expected to hit
"A strong storm system, with the possibility of tornadoes, hail and damaging wind, is forecast to move into Mississippi this afternoon, mainly in the Delta area."
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080410/NEWS/80410021&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL
AGAIN?? Let me guess: this is because we have casinos.
Crematorium allowed to remain open.
In a written statement, Hood said, "Due to the dearth of law and regulation of crematoriums, Judge Thomas did the best thing he could by granting the preliminary injunction requiring that the defendant's facility be run pursuant to national guidelines."....
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080410/NEWS/804100383/1001/news
This so-called investigation has been a cluster****. It is embarrassing that there is NO LAW OR REGULATION governing crematoriums. According to former trial lawyer Dewayne Thomas and trial lawyer puppet Jim Hood, no such statutes exist, thus allowing Mr. Seepe, ghoul extraordinaire, to remain open. One feels for these families as they have been through hell. My Grandfather was supposedly cremated and buried (I know I buried something that day at Cedar Lawn) by Mr. Seepe's business. It is sickening to say the least to think that that might not be my Grandfather buried in that plot. Even more disgusting is that the state was notified several times and did nothing or acted so slowly that Mr. Seepe was given time to cover up his past acts.
Marshall Ramsey nails it again
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=OPINION04
Unfortunately this is true. I was in my Grandmother's home near Old Canton Road and Ridgewood when the tornado hit and not once did I hear a siren. Perhaps we should fire Shirlene and buy some sirens. I shouldn't be too surprised as Melton has always been more concerned with helping out his friends than looking after the city.
Jere Nash shows his ignorance on Iraq
Nash, who I know is better-read than this, criticizes the effort in Iraq: http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=redblue&plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3a36489e38-8ae6-4b2e-8841-0017ffb2c4ddPost%3afe8c0a08-059f-4765-a54b-e6fb44a3822c&sid=sitelife.clarionledger.com
No Mr. Nash, it is not unbelievable. Under the doctrine of COIN, the first thing you do to fight an insurgency is provide enough troops to improve security. The goal is NOT to beat the enemy in battle but to win the population over to your side to the point that it becomes an active ally against the insurgents. Thus, the troops have been moved out of bases and into the field among the native population for the purpose of building relationships with the Iraqis, developing better intelligence, and engaging the enemy quickly and decisively. After security is improved, THEN political progress can take place and it takes time. The Iraqis have only had a year of true security for a year or less and yet we expect them to conform to our McDonald's fast food culture and roll out a long term stable government as if on an assembly line. Any COIN expert will tell you it will take several years to defeat an insurgency.
Then there is the Jackson Free Press
Assistant Editor Maggie Burkes shows her ignorance of Islam:
In 2006, just a year into his papacy, Pope Benedict offended Muslims around the world when he quoted Byzantine Emperor Manual II Paleologos saying, “Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.” He was delivering a speech on the differences between violence and faith as manifested in the Christian and Muslim faiths.While the pope expressed that it was not his intention to offend Islam, one has to wonder what ill-advised intent he had when reading a passage that alluded to the “evil and inhuman” nature of their faith. I’m sure there were better passages to cite that would have illustrated his topic without causing the frenzy. http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/comments.php?id=16770_0_7_0_C
Where does one start with the young Ms. Burkes? Has she actually read the Koran? Studied the history of Islam? This is a religion that treats women as cattle. Education is discouraged if contrary to the laws of the prophet. There is no freedom of conscience or thought. If you convert from Islam, the ONLY penalty is death. There is no division of power between religion and secular as Shariah is the only law, all crimes are thus sins. What Ms. Burkes does not understand is that there is NO criticism of Islam the Pope could have made without such a protest. This is a religion whose adherents seek to shut down, or destroy if possible, anyone who criticizes Islam as it is considered to be a blasphemy against the prophet and allah.
If Ms. Burkes had bothered to read his comments in full, she would have found that the Pope was discussing the practice of forced conversions, jihad, and the militant nature of Islam. One would assume that as a "progressive", Ms. Burkes would have a problem with some of these aspects of Islam as well if she is not too blinded by the see no evil hear no evil multicultural ideology.
Nice column by Gregory
who discovers history is indeed cyclical ;-) : http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/comments.php?id=16752_0_7_0_C#110866
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Review of the News
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9 comments:
Unfortunately some, like the renter Ms. Jones, will be forced out after the structure is deemed unsafe and/or condemned.
Unfortunately, you are right.
Benedict doesn't have the natural gift for interfaith dialogue that his predecessor did. Not to speak ill of the Pope, but I think a young cardinal from Latin America or Africa would have been a better choice.
And I completely agree with Maggie, against whom I have never had any complaint. Benedict should have chosen a different quote.
There are several thousand Muslims in Jackson, by my reckoning. Until you can name a few who have actually stoned someone to death for apostasy, your characterization of Islam isn't going to hold any water with me. Saying that "Islam" supports stoning for apostasy, per a reference to same, would be like saying that "Judaism" and "Christianity" support genocide.
She didn't read his quotes in context. The Pope was talking about forced conversions, the penalty for apostasy, jihad, and other more militant features of Islam and how they are practiced in the Muslim world. Just because you are Maggie wishes it weren't so doesn't mean he wasn't speaking the truth and frankly, not enough people know about those aspects of Islam. Why don't you ask Christians in the Sudan who have been forcibly converted or literally enslaved if the Pope is right.
As for your argument using Muslims in Jackson, there are so many different ways to knock that argument out of the ballpark I don't know where to start.
Once again, you make the mistake of using personal experiences to argue against a more general position. There will always be exception to everything. Just because when they meet you and talk to you they come across as nice people doesn't mean anything. Have you visited a Mosque on a regular basis? A Madrass?
I've known some nice communists. There is a dj at one of the clearchannel stations here who is an avowed Marxist. Yup. He will tell you he is. period. Does that mean because he is a swell guy and he is very non-threatening that I should think communism and its abhorrent practices is ok? Just because I might have known some white supremicists in junior high that were pretty good guys personally mean I should think the white surpemacy ideology is ok?
The important test is to see how Islam is practiced in countries where it is the dominant religion and too often, the more militant features rule. In case you haven't noticed, there are reasons these people are called "fundamentalists". ANY modernization of Islam or adapting it to a more secular world is seen as apostasy and heresy. period.
Since you think Islamic fundmentalists are so wonderful, why don't you ask why so many of the dissidents have gone into hiding or need protection. Ask why they have not moved into Turkey, which you claim is more secular, even though fundamentalists are gaining more power there. Ask why you so called moderate Muslims in Jackson have not spoken out against the jihadists. They have a Mosque here. Have you seen any speeches against Islamic fundamentalism in the Mosque here? Did you ever think the reason why yo uwon't see any is because such dissent is suppressed or not encouraged, or gasp, they even agree with it?
And yes, there are more than a few documented cases of people being executed for apostasy in Muslim countries and death sentences being issued by Islamic Courts in the Middle East. Shariah does not tolerate dissent.
'Fish, your comments about Islam are GENERAL. We live in Jackson, most of your readers come from the Jackson area, and therefore, their main sphere of influence vis-a-vis Islam is Jackson Muslims. Jackson Muslims do not fit the stereotypes you describe.
The readers you do have from outside of the Jackson area live, by and large, in the United States. U.S. Muslims do not fit the stereotypes you describe.
If you have any readers from outside of the United States, they more than likely live in Europe. The vast majority of European Muslims do not fit the stereotypes you describe.
I doubt very many fundamentalist clerics from Saudi Arabia or rural Nigeria read your blog, but if they do, I guess you sure told them off.
Meanwhile, there are real issues of division, distrust, marginalization, and prejudice affecting Muslims in Jackson and throughout the United States--and none of this is helped by talk about "Islam" that seems to be predicated on the idea that there's not much difference between my Muslim friends in this city and a wild-eyed stoner in Riyadh or Bauchi.
Truth is that I can pull out Bible verses that support violent jihad, genocide, infanticide, the legalization of urban rape, and, of course, the stoning of apostates. I could say this is what "Christianity" means, and point to historical examples of people who actually did accept that interpretation of Christianity. But I'm not going to do that, because that would be bullshit.
And it's no less bullshit when one does the same with Islam.
First of all, Ms. Burkes is the one that brought up the Pope and his remarks. Last time I checked, the Pope was not in Jackson. Second of all, I've made it clear that the topics I cover are not just limited to Jackson area issues.
Here is what happened to one Muslim reformer: Muslim reformer hides in America
Your topics aren't limited to Jackson, but if your blog has a predominantly Jackson-based readership, negative comments you make about Muslims will reflect mainly on Jackson Muslims--who have no more in common with violent fundamentalists than you or I do.
violent fundamentalists?
and how many nations do they control? How many nations in the MIddle East are based on Shariah? please. I'm not worried about Jackson Muslims just as I wasn't worried about Jackson Communists when there was a Soviet Union.
Islam is a religion, not a political ideology. Communism as a system is concretized only when it's the official policy of a state. Islam as a system is concretized in the life of every Muslim. If you're referring to Islam as a political ideology rather than as a religion, "Islamism"--even "Islamofascism"--would make that distinction clearer.
Try to imagine how you would feel if folks said the sorts of things about Judaism that you say about Islam, then backed up and said "Oh, I'm not talking about Jackson Jews--I'm just criticizing Israel." Actually, that happens quite often in the left-blogosphere and I've taken a lot of folks to task for it...
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